Chapter One :

1. Describe each of the characters in this chapter and their relationship with one another.

Pony Boy: The smart one, the youngest (14), parents died, youngest of three brothers (Sodapop and Darry), reddish/brown hair, likes to read.
Sodapop: The middle child in the family, blonde hair, 16-17, dropped out of highschool to get a job to help pay for Pony Boy's education.
Darrel: Everyone calls him Darry, the oldest brother, smart, loving, handsome, tall, got a football scholarship but refused to take care of his two younger brothers, has two jobs.
Johnny: The gangs pet, youngest next to Ponyboy, gets abused by his parents, got beat up badly by the Socs, very shy, long jetblack hair.
Dally: Everybody calls him Dallas, he likes to draw, hair looks white since its so blonde, eyes are cold blue/grey, elfish face, high cheekbones, pointed nose, arrested at 10, more tougher, colder, and leaner then the rest of the gang.
Keith Mathews: Called Two-Bit Mathews, hes a wisecracker, rusty coloured side burns, oldest of the gang, six foot, goes to shcool just for kicks.
Steve Randal: Sodapops best friend, smart, cocky, lean, thick hair.


2. Who are the Socs? Who are the Greasers?

Greasers: Live on the Eastside, poor compared to the Socs, like a hood, steals things, drive souped up cars, have gang fights and and a while.
Socs: Sometimes known as the socials, richer then the greasers, jump the greasers, wreck houses, throw beer blasts for fun, west-side rich kids, public disgrace.


3. How do Ponyboy's relationship with Sodapop and Darry differ? Explain.

Ponyboy and Sodapop are like close friends while Darry is like a Father to him rather then a friend, always telling him what to do, always yelling at him, always on his back. While Sodapop is always sticking up for Ponyboy, inviting him places. Sodapop treat Ponyboy like he's his age, while Darry always treats him like a little kid which upsets Ponyboy.
Ponyboy likes Sodapop more then Darry because of the fact that he thinks Darry doesnt love him, and he thinks that he only loves Sodapop because he never yells at him. His gang always tells Ponyboy that Darry cares for him & does love him, but i dont think Ponyboy realloy believes him.
He feels safe with Sodapop, feels like he can trust him with anything. I dont think he would have that kind of relationship with Darry again, ever since their parents died.


4. Why is the 'gang' important to Johnny?

I could say the 'gang' is practally Johnnys life. I say this because Johnnys parents arent all that, his dad always hits him and beats him up, and his mom ignores him and doesnt care about him/where he is/ or what hes doing. So he thinks as the gang as his family, there so important because they're the only people that really love him.


5. How does Ponyboy react to Sodapop when he tells him about Darry?

Ponyboy didnt believe anything that Sodapop was saying to him about Darry, he didnt believe he was so rough on him only because he worries about him and he was the baby of that family and the only really brainy one and he didnt want anything to happen to him.


6. Do you think Darry loves Ponyboy? Why does he treat Ponyboy the way he does?

I do think Darry loves Ponyboy and I think he only treats him the way he does is because he doesn't want anything to happen to him, he wants the best life possible for him and he wants him to stay in school, dont get in trouble with the law and go to a good college. Kinda like he wants Ponyboy to have the life he never had.

7. What does Ponyboy mean on page 18 when he says, "I lie to myself all the time"? Do you ever lie to yourself? Why?

I think Ponyboy means is that he knows the truth, but doesnt want to believe it. When he was saying the Darry doesn't love him or he doesn't like Darry he knows he doenst mean it, or its not true.. but he wants to believe otherwise.
I think I do that sometimes but I can't think of a specific situation right now.